Hoffenheim 1-2 Manchester City: Late David Silva Strike Gets City Up And Running

David Silva scored an 87th-minute winner to give Manchester City their first Champions League win of the season.
Silva was also instrumental in Aguero’s equaliser, playing a perfectly weighted pass to Leroy Sané on the left flank who then cut the ball back to the Argentina international inside the box.
Opponents Hoffenheim are playing in the Champions League for the first time, but Silva capitalised on a defensive error by Stefan Posch to ensure the hosts’ maiden home game in the competition ended in defeat.
City had fallen behind after only 44 seconds when Hoffenheim striker Ishak Belfodil calmly slotted the ball between Ederson’s legs.
But the Premier League champions weren’t behind for long and of course it was Sergio Agüero who drew them level.
The Argentine was alert as ever in the box and positioned himself well to get onto the end of Sané’s pull back to score his 206th Manchester Ctiy goal.
Hoffenheim ‘keeper Oliver Baumann was determined to give his side a fighting chance, however, stopping Raheem Sterling’s effort with his feet before denying Agüero his second of the game with a superb flying save.
Agüero also fired a volley over, totally unmarked, from just six yards out and also had a weak header saved in the second half as City to turn the game on its head.

The travelling Cityzens then had a strong penalty shout turned down when Baumann seemed to bring down Sané in the box but referee Damir Skomina waved away the protests without a second thought.

But City weren’t to be denied. With just three minutes of normal time remaining, Posch failed to clear Bernardo Silva’s cross and David Silva was Jonny on the spot to nick in and drive the ball low under the advancing Baumann and into the back of the net.
The win gives City their first points in the Champions League this season and after going top of the Premier League on goal difference following the weekend’s win over Brighton, things are falling into place at the Etihad.
The result also put an end to the Cityzens’ four-game losing run in the Champions League, going back to last season’s campaign which started with defeat in the quarter-finals by Liverpool, who sit just behind City in second in the Premier League.
It seems then, that it was the perfect preparation for the top of the table clash at Anfield on Sunday Afternoon. Not only did City play an “easier” team than Liverpool’s next opponents Napoli tomorrow night, but they also have 24 hours more recovery time than their Merseyside rivals.
You can be assured that both sides will fully commit to what promises to be one of the games of the season.

Liverpool, of course, were the team to end City’s unbeaten league run last season, running out 4-3 winners in a sensational match. In the month of Guy Fawkes, expect fireworks once more.